Combined mine car end, buffer, and draft construction



A. R. LONG 2,308,374

COMBINED MINE CAR END, BUFFER AND DRAFT CONSTRUCTIONS Jah. 12, 1943.

FiledJuly 31, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E1 REE-5i 3. pa m T A 6 4 2 7 ML w I 6 $5 4 3 4 a, 2 6 {1 62 a %//2 2, w 4 7 5 By i 4., 5 Razz -.ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 12, 1943 COMBINED MINE CAR END, BUFFER, AN DRAFT CONSTRUCTION Armistead R. Long, Fayetteville, W. Va.

Application July 31, 1940, Serial No. 348,789

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to industrial or mine cars and is applicable to many types of cars, such as the rotary dump, the end dump and other 7 types.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an industrial car which will retain its shape, even tho subjected to considerable stresses and strains due to draft of the load, backing, coupling, and uneven tracks. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the longitudinal sills, end sills and bufier housings are functionally integral being made mainly of rolled metal sections and metal castings integrally secured together.

Another object of the invention is to provide car end constructions whereby the bumpers form the end sills of the cars, no matter Whether of the step or box type, so as to transmit the buff shock more solidly and directly to body members,

such as the side or center sills; and to permit of inexpensive and conveniently applied braces, welded or otherwise secured to the sill and bumper. In the step type car, the end sills also give added support to the mourners benches and end plates.

A further object of the invention is to associate gusset plates with the longitudinal sills and bumpers made partly of castings and partly of rolled metal sections so as to assist in keeping the metal sections from being driven back into the load receiving space when subjected to considerable impact.

Another object of the invention is'to provide buffer housings of cast metal which may have portions cut away to fit various types of mine car constructions, such as those of the step orbox types.

Another object of the invention is to provide mine cars with bumpers including slidably and resiliently mounted bufier shoes; superjacent draw bars for the coupling pins, which draw bars are relatively short and terminate near the car body end sills remote from the vertical planes in which the bufilng faces of the shoes are located; and, relatively long links for coupling the cars. By this arrangement I avoid injury to men coupling cars, since danger of the hand of the operator being caught between the draw bars is avoided and the bumper affords an ample shelflike projection on which the long link may rest or be supported.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined bumper and draft gear including a spring draw bar for use with the usual coupling pin and link and. which is so constructed as to support the link in a horizontal position by its engagement with the draw bar and buffer shoe of the bumper Without needlessly widening the bumper. This is in part accomplished by providing a buffer shoe, the upper horizontal flange of which is narrow at its central portion and widened at its end portions so as to arch around the draw bar and coupling pin, instead of having the draw bar rest upon the flange which isthe common construction and causes the link to assume a diagonal position if coupled with a bumper and draft gear using a coupler tongue instead of a yieldable draw bar.

Another object of the invention is to provide a draw bar for mine cars having vertically spaced tongues spaced a distance substantially greater than the thickness of the link to extend therebetween, but with a web or gusset at the under side of the upper tongue near its juncture with the lower tongue, the web having a link engaging surface extending downwardly and rearwardly toward the car body and spaced at its lower end from the lower tongue a distance no greater than the thickness of the link so the latter maybe I shoved back by the brakeman or attendant when getting ready to couple cars, and held by said web against drooping and in readiness for coupling relation with the adjacent car.

A further object of the invention is to provide a buffer in which the impact or shock incident to bumping of cars when coupling or backing is absorbed, partly by inexpensive yieldable blocks, suchas of wood, and partly by cooperating compression springs. By'this arrangement, comparatively inexpensive short stiff springs may be used, less likely to become permanently set in a compressed condition. The arrangement also permits the use of metal abutment plates interposed between the springs and blocks to take up any weakening of the springs or the battering of the blocks.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following detailed description of various embodiments of my invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the end portions of two coupled cars constructed according to the present invention, the relative position of parts being such as when the cars are being hacked or bumped. v

Figure 2 is. a vertical sectional viewpn the line 2-2 of. Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a similar view on the line 3- -3 of Figure 1, but showing the relative position of parts when the cars are being pulled.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary end elevation of a. car showing my new buffer and draft housing.

Figure is a similar view showing my new buffer housing.

In the drawings, where like characters designate similar parts thruout the several views, A and B designate the adjacent end portions of two mine cars in a train, the car A having an end construction C and the car B having an end construction D; while E and F designate coupling pins and G a link associated with the pins. The link G is preferably much longer than that commonly used, the purpose of which will be subsequently set forth.

The car A comprises spaced longitudinal sills l2 and a combined end, buffer and draft construction IS. The car B comprises like spaced longitudinal sills I2, and a combined end buffer and draft construction M. The main difierence between constructions l3 and I4 is that the former is made for yieldable or spring draft to absorb shocks such as those due to sudden starting of the train, while the latter is of a comparatively simple nature and makes no provision for absorbing such shock. It is to be understood that each car may have incorporated therein one of each construction l3 and I4 thereby absorbing the draft shock, to which the car is subjected, at the end incorporating the spring draft. In Figures 2 and 5 the end construction is shown as having a body wall l5 secured thereto, but it is to be understood that this construction is also well adapted for end dump cars where the wall would be free to move away from the end construction for dumping purposes. Figure 4 shows a body wall [5 secured to the end construction and this is particularly well adapted for use at the closed end of end dump cars, as well as for rotary and drop bottom cars.

The longitudinal sills l2 shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, are preferably rolled metal Z-section, suitable, as an example, for step type cars as shown in Patents 1,834,463 and 2,089,754 granted December 1, 1931 and August 10, 1937 respectively, on prior inventions of mine. These sills are alike in both cars A and B. Each sill comprises an upright web IS, a horizontal lower flange I! and horizontal upper flange IS. The flanges I! extend toward each other and may serve to support the car bottom, not shown in the drawing, in the well known manner. The flanges l8 of the sills extend away from each other and likewise may support the step bottoms or mourners benches, not shown in the drawings.

The end construction l3 preferably comprises a body forming structural end member 23, such as a rolled metal channel section, a combined buffer and spring draft gear housing 24, preferably of cast metal, a spring draft gear 25, and buffer or shock absorbing means 25.

While the body forming structural end member 23 is shown as having an upright web 21 flanged and fabricated to provide a major horizontal, intermediate dove-tail portion 28 and outer horizontal gusset like portions 29, this is merely by way of example. It represents an inexpensive, easily fabricated member the web 21 of which may constitute a portion of the wall defining the load carrying space, as well as a support or brace for the body wall I5, the "over hang of the body, and other body parts not shown in the drawing, because of its portions 30 extending outwardly beyond the horizontal sills I The web 27 not only abuts the ends of sills I2 but is preferably secured thereto by angle braces 36.

In order to strengthen the body wall i5 and prevent the member 23 from driving back into the load receiving space, upright triangular gusset plates 42 are shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, having their bases secured to the lower flange H by line of weld 43, their uprights to member 23 and wall l5 by line of weld 44 and the lower portions of their diagonal margins to the web 16 by a line of weld 45.

Referring now to the combined buffer and spring draft gear housing 24 of end construction I3, it functions as a part of the end sill of the car and is preferably made of cast metal with characteristics making it possible to fit it to cars of various types, such as those using longitudinal sills of Z-shaped or L-shaped cross section. It not only functions to carry the spring draft gear and buffer mediums but also serves to distribute bending, compressive and tension stresses and strains to the body members most capable of withstanding them such as the longitudinal sills l2 and the end member 23. Generally, it comprises a major elongated body portion 46 extending crosswise the end of the car, for supporting the buffer or shock absorbing means, and a minor elongated casing 41 extending longitudinally of the car.

The major portion 46 comprises a substantially vertical web or abutment wall 48 which, in its assembled relation to member 23, abuts against the outer face of the web 21 thereof; horizontal outwardly extending upper and lower spaced apart flanges 49 and 50, respectively; vertical partitions 5| and 52 extending between the flanges 49 and to provide outwardly opening chambers 53 at opposite sides of a central chamber 54 partially defined by walls 52 and which may open outwardly; and curved end walls 55 which cooperate with the walls 5| to provide end chambers 56.

The flanges 49 and 50 have aligned elongated holes 51 for the coupling pin E, which extends thru chamber 54. The holes 51 extend lengthwise of the car and permit limited movement of the coupling pin therein. The flanges 49 and 50 also have aligned elongated holes 58 open to the chambers 56 the purpose of which is to receive parts of the buffer or shock absorbing means 25 as hereinafter described.

An important feature of the combined buffer l and spring draft gear housing are rearwardly extending horizontal flanges 59 integral with and extending longitudinally of the web 48, and downwardly extending flanges 65 integral with and extending longitudinally of the rear portions of flanges 59. When the housing is assembled with respect to the member 23, the flanges 59 rest upon the web 2'! and the flanges 60 engage the inner face of the web 21 so that the housing may be said to not only hang on the member 21 to facili tate welding but also tends to strengthen the upper part of web 2'! remote from flange 28 without materially reducing the load capacity of the car.

The casing 41 is preferably cast integral with the web 48 and flange 49 midway their length and to permit the use of a relatively short draw-bar portion as a part of the spring draft exteriorly of the car body, it is preferred to dispose the major portion 6! of the casing 41 inwardly of the car body with respect to the plane of 48, as shown in Figures" 1, 2 and 3. The casing 41 provides an elongated horizontal, preferably cylindrical, chamber 62 for parts of the spring draft gear. This chamber is open at ends and at its outer end has a radially extending flange 63 providing an inwardly facing shoulder 64 and an opening 65. Adjacent its opposite or inner end the chamber is provided with an outwardly facing shoulder 66.

In the example shown gussets 6! integral with the flange 49 and the outer end of casing 41 serve to strengthen the unit and to serve as guides for a part of the draft gear. It has also been found desirable to provide vertical flanges 68 laterally of the casing M, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, to 7 facilitate welding of the housing to the wall 15 since the wall i5 must be cut away to extend about the casing 41, as is clear from Figure 4.

As to the buffer or shock absorbing means 28 associated with the housing 24, it comprises a buffer shoe 59, buffer blocks 19, such as of wood, companion buffer springs H of the compression coil type,-one for each block, buffer plates 12 interposed between companion blocks and springs and means 13 such as bolts carried by the shoe 89 I and extending thru the aforementioned holes 58 in the housing, yet permitting it to move in a direction generally longitudinally of the car.

The shoe 69 has an arcuate vertical wall 74 for engagement with a companion bumper during bumping or pushing operations of the train, and upper and lower spaced flanges l5 and '55 extending'rearwardly from wall 14 for engagement with the upper and lower faces of flanges t9 and 59 respectively,-a rather common construction.

However, according to the present invention, at least the upper flange 75 is narrow at its central portion H to avoid engagement with the coupling pin E and parts of the spring draft gears 25, and is widened at its end portions 58 to carry the aforementioned bolts 13.

It will be noted the blocks 19 preferably engage the vertical web or abutment wall 48 and substantially fill the inner end portions of their respective chambers 53. Additional buffer plates 12, not shown in the drawing, may be interposed between the springs and blocks in the event the blocks become battered or the springs permanently set in a weakened condition due to long use. This arrangement of block, plate and spring in each chamber 53 also permits of the use of relatively short, stiff, inexpensive compression springs and the block breaks the metallic vibrations in the spring incident to bumper shock which, to a degree, will prevent the spring becoming c ystallized.

The springs H engage the inner face of the wall 14 of buffer shoe 69, normally forcing the shoe outwardly. However, the outward movement is limited by the engagement of bolts 13 with the forward ends of slots 58.

As to the spring draft gear 25, it comprises a draw bar 19, a coiled compression spring 80, and means 8| associated with the spring draw bar and shoulder 66 to compress the spring upon draft I force applied to the draw bar and to limit the spaced a distance greater than the thickness of link G one end of which extends therebetween so the link may oscillate up and down on the bumper as when the train is traveling over uneven track. The jaw or tongue 86 fits between the gussets- 61 so the draw bar is guided thereby to avoid bending of the shank in opening 65 or washer in the chamber 62 when rounding curves. This jaw or tongue 86 is preferably made of a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of flange '15 so the link G may rest flat upon these parts during normal draft. The jaws or tongues 85 and 86 have aligned openings 88 for coupling pin E which extends thru the link and'thru the elongate openings 51 and chamber 54 in the housing 24. The jaw or tongue 85 is provided with a web or gusset 99 integral with its under side and also preferably integral with the bight portion 81. This web or gusset 89 has a link engaging surface 99 inclining downwardly and rearwardlytoward the car body and spaced at its lower end from the plane in which the link engages the bumper or, in other words, as in the example shown, from the top surface of jaw or tongue 85, a distance no less than the thickness of link. The purpose of this web or gusset is to enable a brakeman or attendant to grasp the link and quickly shove it toward the car body against the web or gusset 89 so as to force and hold the link in a position for coupling without drooping, or, in other words, in a position flat upon the jaw or tongue 86 and flat upon the flange 15'.

The coil spring 89 at its one end engages the shoulder 64 and at its other end operatively :engages means 8! which, in the example shown, comprises a washer 9| and a nut 92. The washer extends around shank 82. abuts the end of spring 89 at its endportion opposite shoulder 64 and is of a size to engage shoulder 66, as shown in Figure 3, when the spring 89 has been compressed to a limited extent due to draft upon the bar 19. The nut 92 is in threaded engagement with the shank 82 at its thread 83 so as to permit adjustment of the spring 89, that is, the extent to which it is initially compressed when the head 84 engages the end of casing 41, as shown in Figure 2. The nut is turned on the screw thread 83 to initially compress the spring 89 to the extent where the washer 9| is in the chamber 62 but does not engage the outwardly facing shoulder 66, when there is no draft on the drawbar i9, and hence the washer prevents coal or large particles of foreign matter from entering the spring compartment of casing 41.

The housing 24 is preferably welded to the member 23 by a line of welding 93 at its ends and at other appropriate portions. As shown in Figure 4, the body wall I5 is also welded to the housing 24 by a line of welding 94 which extends upwardly and horizontally along the flanges 68, as at 95, and along the top of casing 41, as at 96. Referring now to the combined end, buffer and draft construction M of car B, it is substantially like that of car A with the following exceptions:-- The web or abutment wall 48 of housing 24 preferably has a continuous, rearwardly extending horizontal flange 91 integral with and extending longitudinally of the web 49, and a continuous, downwardly extending flange 99 integral with and extending longitudinally of the rear portion vof flange 91, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, to form a hook-like portion for engagement with the u per portion of member 23.

The flanges 4B and 49 preferably have round holes 99 for coupling pin F, since this is the pin usually removed when uncoupling.

The housing 24 preferably has a relatively short draw-bar or coupler tongue I integral therewith, spaced above the flange 49 a distance greater than the thickness of link G as by walls IIJI and I02 and gussets I03, so the link G may oscillate up and down as the cars move over uneven track. The bar or tongue I00 has a hole I04 aligned with holes 99 to receive the coupling pin F.

If the construction I4 is used at the closed end of a car, the body wall I5 may be welded to flange 9 by a line of welding I05 which continues up the sides and along the top of wall I62, as shown in Figure 5, at I86 and I01.

As a result of the flanges 59 and Bi] and the flanges 9'! and 98 of car end constructions I3 and I4, the housings 24 may be cast with these flanges continuous thruout the length of the housing and then cut away to fit structural members of the car body, such as the longitudinal sills which are or may be of different sections in different types of cars. The weight of the buffer or shock absorbing means is transmitted mainly to the lower part of the member 23 by the hooklike flanges 59 and 6D and 91 and 98, but bending of the web 21 is resisted by the gusset plates 42 and its welded connection with the braces 36. By the provision of relatively short draw bars I9 and I09 terminating remote from the vertical planes of the Wear faces I68 of bumper shoes 69, I provide a coupling arrangement whereby the ends of the companion draw bars of coupled cars are spaced a distance suflicient to preclude jambing of a trainmans hand therebetween when the bumper shoes are engaging and fully forced toward their respective car bodies, yet it is not necessary to provide bumpers extending a considerable distance outwardly'from the car body since the coupling pins E and F are accommodated in the narrow portions 11 of their companion buffer shoes 69, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Another advantage in having this narrow portion IT 'in construction I3 is that the lower jaw or tongue 86 may lie in same plane as flange I5 instead of resting thereon which latter construction would cause the link to assume a slanting position when associated with construction I4.

I claim:

l. A bufier housing for mine cars comprising in combination with an upright web of an end sill member of the mine car, a substantially Vertical web, horizontal outwardly extending upper and lower spaced apart flanges adapted to support bumper elements, a rearwardly extending flange integral with and extending longitudinally of said Web, and a downwardly extending flange inte gral with and extending longitudinally of the rear portion of said last mentioned flange, said rearwardly and downwardly extending flanges h0oking over said web of the car sill member, to assist in supporting the buffer housing with its vertical web adjacent said upright web of the end sill member. e

2. A buffer housing for mine'cars comprising in combination with an upright web of an end sill member of the mine car, a substantially vertical web, horizontal outwardly extending upper and lower spaced apart flanges adapted to support bumper elements, a rearwardly extending flange integral with and extending longitudinally of said web, a downwardly extending flange integral with and extending longitudinally of the rear portion of said last mentioned flange, said rearwardly and downwardly extending flanges hooking over said web of the car sill member,'to

vertical web adjacent said upright web of the end sill member, and a coupling tongue integral with said web and the upper of said first mentioned flanges of said buffer housing and having a portion spaced above the latter for receiving a coupling pin.

3. In a combined bumper and draft gear for mine cars, the combination with an upright web of an end sill member of the car, of a buffer housing comprising a substantially vertical web, horizontal outwardly extending upper and lower spaced apart flanges adapted to support bumper elements, an elongated casing integral with and disposed with its axis normal to the plane of said vertical web and parallel to the plane of said upper flange, sail elongated casing having a chamber open at both ends adapted to support spring draft elements, rearwardly extending flanges at opposite sides of said housing and integral with and extending longitudinally of said web, and downwardly extending flanges integral with and extending longitudinally of the rear portions of said last mentioned flanges, said rearwardly and downwardly extending flanges hooking over said web of the end sill member, to assist in supporting the buffer housing with its vertical web adjacent said upright web of the car end sill member.

4. In a combined bumper and draft gear for mine cars, the combination with an upright web of an end sill member of the car, of a bufier housing comprising a substantially vertical web, horizontal outwardly extending upper and lower spaced apart flanges adapted to support bumper elements, an elongated casing integral with and disposed with its axis normal to the plane of said vertical web and parallel to the plane of said upper flange with its major portion extending rearwardly with respect to said web, said elongated casing having a chamber open at both ends adapted to support said spring draft elements, rearwardly extending flanges at opposite sides of said casing and integral with and extending longitudinally of said web, and downwardly extending flanges integral with and extending longitudinally of the rear portions of said last mentioned flanges, said rearwardly and downwardly extending flanges hooking over said web of the end sill member, to assist in supporting the buflfer housing with its vertical web adjacent said upright Web of the car end sill member.

' 5. In a combined bumper and draft gear for mine cars, the combination with a coupling pin 7 and link, of a buffer housing including a substanassist in supporting the buffer housing with its tially vertical web, horizontal outwardly extending upper and lower spaced apart flanges provided with aligned elongated slots for the coupling pin; yieldable buffing means between said flanges; a movable draw bar including upper and lower jaws between which the link extends, said jaws provided with aligned openings for the coupling pin and the lower jaw resting upon and slidable with respect to the upper flange of said buffer housing; a buffer shoe engaging said yieldable buffing-means, said shoe including a vertical wall normally spaced by said yieldable bufling means from said flanges of said housing, said vertical wall for engagement with a companion bumperduring bumping or pushing operations,

and upper and lower flanges extending rearwardly from said wall for engagement with the exterior faces of said buffer housing, at least the upper of said shoe flanges being narrow at its central portion to avoid said last mentioned jaw and the coupling pin and its end portions widened, and

said upper shoe flange of a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the lower jaw of said draw bar, whereby the link may rest horizontally on the lower jaw of the draw bar and the upper flange of the shoe; and, means carried by said widened portions of the upper flange of the shoe and by the buffer housing for movably securing the shoe to the housing.

6. In a combined bumper and draft gear for mine cars, the combination of a coupling pin; a housing comprising a substantially vertical web, horizontal outwardly extending upper and lower spaced apart flanges adapted to support bumper elements, and an elongated casing rigid with said housing, providing a horizontal chamber open at its ends, the axis of said chamber being above the plane of said upper flange, said flanges having elongated openings adapted to receive the coupling pin and permit limited movement thereof longitudinally of the car and said casing provided with an abutment wall at its forward end; a coil spring in said chamber limited in its movement in one direction by said abutment wall; a draw bar including a shank extending thru said chamber and spring, and a tongue extending from said shank over the upper flange of the housing, said tongue also having an opening for the coupling pin; and, means on said shank engaging the coil spring at its end portion opposite said abutment wall to compress the spring upon draft force applied to said draw bar, the extent to which said spring may be compressed being limited by the coupling pin reaching the outer ends of the slots in said housing flanges.

'7. In a draft gear for mine cars, the combination of an elongated casing having an open ended cylindrical chamber provided with an outwardly facing shoulder located inwardly adjacent one end of the casing and an inwardly facing shoulder at the other end of the casing; a coil spring in said chamber in abutting relation to said inwardly facing shoulder, and of a length to normally extend outwardly beyond said outwardly facing shoulder; a draw bar including a head exteriorly of said casing adjacent the inwardly facing shouldered end thereof, and a shank extending into the casing and thru the coil spring; a washer about said shank engaging the coil spring at its end portion opposite the inwardly facing shouldered end of the casing and of a size to engage said outwardly facing shoulder; and means on said shank engaging said washer to initially compress said spring to the extent where said washer is in said chamber but does not engage the outwardly facing shoulder when there is no draft on said draw bar and to cause further expression of said spring and limit thru engagement of said washer with the shoulder, the extent to which the spring may be further compressed, when there is draft upon said draw bar.

8. In a mine gear for mine cars, the combination of an elongated casing having an open ended cylindrical chamber provided with an outwardly facing shoulder located inwardly adjacent one end of the casing and an inwardly facing shoulder at the other end of the casing; a coil spring in said chamber in abutting relation to said inwardly facing shoulder and of a length to normally extend outwardly beyond said outwardly facing shoulder; a draw bar including a head exteriorly of said casing adjacent the inwardly facing shouldered end thereof, and a shank extending into the chamber and thru the coil spring; a washer about said shank engaging the coil spring at its end portion opposite the inwardly facing shouldered end of the casing and of a size to engage said outwardly facing shoulder; and, a nut in screw threaded engagement with said shank at its end opposite the head thereof, said nut engaging the washer and adjustable to initially compress the spring to the extent where the washer is in said chamber but does not engage the outwardly facing shoulder when there is no draft on the draw bar and to cause further compression of said spring and limit thru engagement of said washer with said shoulder, the extent to which the spring may be further compressed, when there is draft upon said draw bar.

9. In a combined bumper and draft gear for mine cars, the combination with a link and a coupling pin, of a bumper normally supporting the link flat upon its upper surface, a draw bar extending outwardly from the car body including upper and lower spaced jaws between which the link extends and provided with aligned openings for the coupling pin, the lower jaw located below the link when in a normal position and the upper jaw spaced above the link a distance to permit the link to oscillate up and down on the bumper as the train moves over uneven track, and a web or gusset at the under side of the upper jaw adjacent its rear end, the Web or gusset having a link engaging surface inclining downwardly and rearwardly toward the car body and spaced at its lower end a distance from the upper surface of the lower jaw, no greater than the thickness of the link, whereby brakemen or attendants may readily and quickly position the link against drooping and in readiness for a coupling operation by shoving the link against the link engaging surface of said web or gusset until it is held thereby against drooping on the bumper.

ARMIS'IEAD R. LONG. 

